The Life of William Bell
William Bell was an English painter who specialized in portraits. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, he was the son of a bookbinder. As a young adult, he may have worked as a house-painter before establishing himself as an artist by the early 1760s. He was one of the first six students admitted to the Royal Academy Schools in 1769 and won a gold medal in 1771 for his historical picture, Venus intreating Vulcan to forge the armour of Aeneas. In 1772, he also received a prize from the Society of Arts for best historical painting.
While studying in London, Bell painted for Sir John Delaval, creating a series of life-size portraits of the Delaval family for display at Seaton Delaval Hall. After approximately 1775, he moved away from the London art scene to focus on local commissions in the North East of England. He operated a studio in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he also taught drawing and restored paintings. He died in the Newcastle Infirmary in 1794.
Notable Works and Subjects
Bell's portraiture included many distinguished individuals from his region. His known works include:
- Portraits of the Delaval family, including Lady Susanna, John, Sophia, Frances, Sarah, and Elizabeth Delaval.
- A portrait of the engraver Thomas Bewick.
- The portrait of Robert Harrison, held in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
- Portraits of Joseph Austin and Eleanor Austin.
- Paintings for the St. John Masonic Lodge, such as Francis Peacock, Masonic Grand Master.
Questions & Answers
Where can I see William Bell's artworks in a 3D gallery?
William Bell's artworks can be seen in a 3D gallery on the artist's 3D Museum page.
What moods do William Bell's artworks express?
The artist's Mood Room page shows William Bell's artworks arranged by their atmosphere.
Can I study William Bell's use of color across all works?
William Bell's use of color across the works listed on this website can be studied on the artist's Palette Genome page.
Is there a complete list of William Bell's artworks?
Every work by William Bell on this website can be browsed from the artist's All Artworks page.
